About 300 students gathered on the Reitz Union Colonnade on Wednesday in hopes of getting a ticket to the free Billy Joel event on March 1.
All 1,750 tickets to the show were sold out soon after they became available, said Accent chairman Corey Portnoy.
Portnoy said Accent is bringing Joel because he appeals to a wide audience. Portnoy said he expects the vast majority of the audience to be students.
Summer Rose, a 20-year-old business management student, arrived at the University Box Office at 7 a.m. and seized the coveted first place in line.
"I just love Billy Joel," Rose said. "I've been to four concerts. This will be my fifth, and he puts on a great show."
Rose said she was raised listening to Joel's music and has been a fan for years.
Behind her in the line were sophomores Michael Zelin, 19; Ryan Cain, 19; and Chase Schulte, 20. They arrived at 7:30 a.m.
"I've wanted to go to a Billy Joel concert since I was young," Zelin said. "And this is free."
Joel's visit to UF will be a part of his "Questions & Answers . . . and a Little Bit of Music" lecture series.
He will talk at 8 p.m. on March 1 at the Phillips Center for Performing Arts.
"If the show's at 8 on Thursday, I'll probably show up around 3," Rose said. "I want to be sure to get a great seat — and I really want to ask him a question."
